Adobe's goal is to put users in control of their own data and computers. Flash Player can provide you with the same control of local shared objects that web browsers give you for cookies. This TechNote explains how to manage the settings for and delete local shared objects through the Settings Manager.

What is a local shared object?

A local shared object, sometimes called a "Flash cookie," is a data file that can be created on your computer by the sites you visit. Shared objects are most often used to enhance your web-browsing experience. For example, by allowing you to personalize the look of a website that you frequently visit. Shared objects, by themselves, can't do anything to or with the data on your computer. More important, shared objects can never access or remember your e-mail address or other personal information unless you willingly provide such information.

Where can I change the settings for disabling, or deleting local shared objects?

Flash Player provides a number of ways you can manage a website's ability to store information in local shared objects. You can control storage by individual websites or for all websites.

To adjust settings or delete data for individual websites you have visited, use the Website Storage Settings panel in the Settings Manager. You can change the storage limit of individual websites by selecting the website from the list and moving the slider bar. You can also delete data from a specific website by selecting a website and clicking Delete. Finally, you can delete all data currently stored on your system in local shared objects by clicking Delete All Sites. This function is similar to the function in your web browser that lets you delete cookies.

Configuring storage for the site you are currently viewing

On the site you are viewing, right-click rich media content to display the context menu.

Select Settings to bring up the Settings dialog box.

Right-click rich media to access the Settings option in the context menu.

Click the third tab on the bottom of the dialog box (the folder icon) to open the Local Storage panel. This panel indicates the amount of storage currently in use for the current website. It lets you change the default amount of storage for the current website by moving the slider bar.

The Local Storage tab shows the amount of space currently used by the website and lets you change the setting.

When you have finished changing the settings, click Close. Flash Player remembers your local storage settings for the current website.

If you are unsure how much space to allow, but want to be prompted when the site tries to store data or increase the storage limit, move the slider bar to 0 KB. Selecting the Never Ask Again option prevents the Local Storage pop-up dialog from appearing within the rich media content. However, this option can cause certain sites that rely on some amount of local storage to stop working without any warning.

Changing the default storage setting for all websites

By default, Flash Player allows each site to store 100 KB of data in a local shared object on your computer. You can change the default storage behavior for all sites you visit using the Global Storage settings panel in the Flash Player Settings Manager.

In the Global Storage Settings panel, you can change the default amount of storage to apply to all websites you visit.

Use the slider bar to change the default amount of storage you want to allow for sites you visit in the future.

When you have finished changing the settings, close the Settings Manager. Flash Player remembers your global storage settings and uses it for any websites you visit in the future.

If you are unsure how much space to allow, but would like to be prompted tries to store data or increase the storage limit, move the slider bar to 0 KB. Selecting the Never Ask Again option prevents the Local Storage pop-up dialog from appearing within the rich media content. However, this option can cause certain sites that rely on some amount of local storage to stop working without any warning.

Adobe takes consumers' privacy seriously and is committed to protecting the security of individuals' personal information on the web. Adobe is dedicated to helping you maintain a secure browsing experience by providing and continuously improving Flash Player privacy controls.

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